TRACK OF THE DAY – BLONDAGE – “DIVE”

Danish electronic duo, Blondage (formerly known as Rangleklods) comprises of Esben Norskov Andersen and Pernille Smith –Sivertsen. They have been part of a “new wave” of groups re-defining the Danish music scene and produce electronic music that sounds intense and euphoric at the same time, mainly due to the band possessing a “dark/light” quality which can flit from heavy synths to angelic vocals.

They debuted in 2011 with their EP Home from which the single Young and Dumb was taken, described by NME as “something truly brilliant, hypnotic, warped and alien sounding all at once”. Their electronic sound is certainly experimental, diverse and is inspired by mid ‘90s hip hop and early ‘90s rave, although the duo state that they want their sound to continually evolve and not be genre specific.

Blondage have been on a steady ascent since the release of their debut album Beekeeper in 2012 to great praise. This was followed by their brilliant second album Straitjacket, which was a fusion of all the different elements the duo are inspired by underlined by a heavy electronic club influence. For those unfamiliar with the band, it’s worth checking out sublime stand-out tracks Lost U and Schoolgirls. The duo have been one of the most proficiently touring Danish bands internationally for several years, with performances on notable European festivals such as Roskilde, Sziget , Ja Ja Ja, Spot and many more.

On changing their name, Pernille says: “We’ve released records with Rangleklods that we’re extremely proud of. But we need a new beginning for us to keep evolving. We’re changing our name to Blondage, and our main focus is to make edgy electronic pop tunes. The name Blondage is a contraction of “blond” and “bondage” and to us it combines naivety and daydreaming with aggression and sensuality. It has given us an empty canvas and a greater creative energy that we’ve ever had”.

Dive is the infectious new single and is the first release since the change in band name. It’s a quirky surprise and evidence of their desire to experiment. The track is the first from the debut EP, set to be released later this year via Tambourhinoceros (Palace Winter, Cancer, CTM etc)

The track is a delicious dance delight – contemporary and direct and showcases the duo’s exceptional production. Crisp and to the point, the vocals and lead synthesizers deliver crystal clear catchy hooks while playful samples and percussion spice up the driving beat. And whilst the band do not care for genre, the influences of rave and club sounds are there helping to create a top electronic earworm of a song that has an instant appeal.

Blondage are appearing live at London’s The Waiting Room on 19th May 2016

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